New Canaan routs Barlow to reach Class M final

Scott Ericson

Updated 11:21 pm, Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan #16 Henry Stanton and Barlow #20 Harry Wilson battle as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan #16 Henry Stanton and Barlow #20 Harry Wilson battle as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan's #44 Teddy Bossidy looks to pass as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan's #44 Teddy Bossidy looks to pass as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow #3 Zach Pompea gains ground against New Canaan #4 Frank Cognetta as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

Barlow #3 Zach Pompea gains ground against New Canaan #4 Frank Cognetta as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan goalie Trent Nader makes the save as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan goalie Trent Nader makes the save as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow's #20 Harry Wilson battles as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Barlow's #20 Harry Wilson battles as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan's #16 Henry Stanton fires as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

New Canaan's #16 Henry Stanton fires as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan #2 Justin Melchner gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan #2 Justin Melchner gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan #21 Kyle Smith fires as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

New Canaan #21 Kyle Smith fires as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow #20 Harry Wilson gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Barlow #20 Harry Wilson gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow #20 Harry Wilson and New Canaan #16 Henry Stanton vie for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

Barlow #20 Harry Wilson and New Canaan #16 Henry Stanton vie for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow #3 Zach Pompea and New Canaan #4 Frank Cognetta battle for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

Barlow #3 Zach Pompea and New Canaan #4 Frank Cognetta battle for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan #3 Jack Gillo gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

New Canaan #3 Jack Gillo gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan coach Chip Buzzeo watches from the sidelines as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan coach Chip Buzzeo watches from the sidelines as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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Barlow #15 Dylan Carter gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Barlow #15 Dylan Carter gains ground as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014.

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan #42 Teddy Dumbauld and Barlow #9 Bryan Gallaer vie for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT on Weds., June 11, 2014. less

New Canaan #42 Teddy Dumbauld and Barlow #9 Bryan Gallaer vie for the ball as New Canaan High School challenges Joel Barlow High School in Class M semifinal boys lacrosse at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in ... more

Photo: Shelley Cryan

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New Canaan routs Barlow to reach Class M final

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FAIRFIELD -- The New Canaan boys lacrosse team again put up big offensive numbers, beating Joel Barlow 15-1 in the Class M semifinals.

This win, though, was as much about the Rams defensive effort as it was about the goal scorers.

The Rams stick checked the Falcons all night, kept them away from the crease and when the occasional shot did get through, goalie Trent Nader was there to turn it aside.

New Canaan senior defenseman Seth Neeleman said the key to stopping Barlow containing its top threats.

"We have been practicing for these kids all year and we knew who their main weapons were and we were able to just focus on them," Neeleman said. "We were pressing up, being really aggressive and our communication was great and we were all on the same page on defense."

The No. 3 Rams will now get a third shot at border rival and No. 1 Darien Saturday in the championship game.

New Canaan has twice lost to unbeaten Darien in overtime this season.

Rams coach Chip Buzzeo said his team has not played better defense all season and they will need to continue to do so Saturday if they hope to topple the Blue Wave.

"I think our defense is one of the best in the state and today was their best game all year," Buzzeo said. "You saw a lot of their sticks down on the ground and we are not necessarily a stick checking team. We were aggressive on the ball, which was good to see. Our clearing, which we have been working on for two weeks, was perfect. If you want to play a great team like Darien, you have to clear the ball. That's what killed us in the fourth quarter last time and that's what I was so angry about."

No. 7 Barlow kept pace with the Rams early, trailing 1-0 after one and 5-1 at halftime but got worn down by the Rams depth of substitutions.

"I think they have more horses than we do but in the first quarter I thought we would be able to hang with them," Barlow coach John Distler said. "We made mental errors and we could not generate any offense. Credit to their defense, we just couldn't get to the goal. Five to one at half is a respectable game but I knew if we had to play defense the entire second half this would happen."

Justin Meichner scored four goals, Henry Stanton added three and Michael Kraus had two for the Rams.